Ipomoea plant named ‘Balsolablim’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of an ornamental  Ipomoea  plant named ‘Balsolablim’, characterized by its dark purple-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded to trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Ipomoea batatas.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsolablim’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea plant botanically known as Ipomoea batatas and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsolablim’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during May 2013. The objective of the breeding program was the development of ornamental Ipomoea cultivars with a moderately vigorous, mounded to trailing habit.

The new ornamental Ipomoea cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Ipomoea batatas breeding selection coded 022-008, not patented, characterized by its medium purple-colored foliage and moderately vigorous, spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is proprietary Ipomoea batatas breeding selection coded 025-032, not patented, characterized by its variegated purple and green colored foliage and moderately vigorous, spreading growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during April 2014 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since April 2014 in Arroyo Grande, Calif., and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsolablim’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea plant:

-   -   1. Dark purple-colored foliage; and     -   2. Moderately vigorous, mounded to trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a darker purple-colored foliage and increased growth vigor. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having a different foliage color and increased growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available ornamental Ipomoea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is SolarPower Black ‘Balsolablack’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,528. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsolablack’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are wider than plants of         ‘Balsolablack’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a leaf shape with the base of         the central lobe having a smaller width than plants of         ‘Balsolablack’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsolablim’. The plants were grown in 4.5-inch pots for 10 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were pinched one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and habit of ‘Balsolablim’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual leaf of ‘Balsolablim’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in February 2017 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5-inch pots for 10 weeks in a greenhouse utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were pinched one week after transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 66° F. to 70° F. (19° C. to 21° C.) during the day and approximately 58° F. to 62° F. (14° C. to 17° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Ipomoea batatas cultivar Balsolablim. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Ipomoea batatas breeding             selection coded 022-008, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Ipomoea batatas breeding selection             coded 025-032, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 3 to 4 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, medium thickness.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.         -   Tuber description.—Not available, tuber formation not             observed. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 4 to 5 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             mounded to trailing growth habit.         -   Size.—Height: Approximately 12.0 cm. Width: Approximately             27.5 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main lateral branches per plant:             Approximately 2, axils having latent shoots.         -   Branch.—Shape: Round. Strength: Strong, slightly flexible.             Length: Approximately 7.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately             5.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 8.0 mm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color of young stems: 187B. Color of             mature stems: 187A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 8. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Alternate, spiral.         -   Leaves.—Shape: Roughly cordate in overall form, palmately             divided with 5 lobes. Margin: Entire. Apex of central lobe:             Broadly acuminate to broadly acute. Apex of lateral lobes:             Acute. Base: Cordate. Venation pattern: Palmate with arcuate             venation in the center lamina. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 11.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             9.0 cm. Length of central lobe: Approximately 9.5 cm. Width             of central lobe: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young             foliage: 146A with an overlay of 187A. Color of lower             surface of young foliage: Closest to 146B with venation of             closest to 187C. Color of upper surface of mature foliage:             N186A with venation of 187A. Color of lower surface of             mature foliage: Closest to N186C with venation of 187B.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 6.3 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 187A. -   Flowering description: Not available, flower and seed formation not     observed. The new ornamental Ipomoea cultivar is grown as a foliage     plant and is not grown under conditions that are conducive to flower     production. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Ipomoea has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of an ornamental Ipomoea plant named ‘Balsolablim’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 